by Cassandra Clare
Published: March 19, 2013
Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.
Okay. So this is the third review I started to write about this book, the others I can’t quite seem to finish. It’s that scary to write about. So I just paused, let the emotions flood in, and realized, hell, no perfect set of words could really encompass the right review to describe this book.
Ninjas cutting onions. Heartstrings-tugging words. Heart-tearing romance. Exceptional story. It’s—to sum up every perfect word to describe it—beautiful. The one book in your shelf you remove now and then just to stare at and admire and relive the heartbreaking story trapped in the pages inside. And that’s not yet including the eye-catching, jaw-dropping, breath-stealing, awesome, awesome cover! Yeah, and I mean those literally, no exaggerating. This is Cassandra Clare’s book I best loved so far, what with its perfect packaging, especially (what else) the romance. It’s what really had me captured, Tessa torn between her feelings for Will and Jem, their perfect love story written in clever hands creating a beautiful craft of exhilarating romance, not to mention the brotherly sacrifices Will and Jem made for each other to save the girl both their hearts desire. It really had me wonderstruck with its perfect love story, keeping me awake for nights on end, no kidding.
It’s really an amazing read that makes you forget about the world in your silent spine-cracking moments. That I don’t mean literally, seeing as how my sister would probably spank me for destroying her books. I suspect she’d rather have her own spine cracked than dog-ear pages in her books. Well, I tell you, read this book, manage not to spill a single tear, and I’d kill myself (kidding). It’s very emotionally challenging, not just in tragic moments but also in gripping moments of humorous episodes, surprises and epic eye openers that gets you jumping and rolling on the floor (these I actually did, like on some scone incident and silent brother circumstance). Some parts would also get me thrilled to bits with her wonderful words that transport you into the shadowhunting world of the Nephilim.
I love the breathtaking conclusion in particular, which is to be watched out for, with Tessa facing down all of Mortmain’s army of evil automatons with her epic wits and the power of angels on her hands. Don’t believe them when they tell you Clockwork Princess ruined the Infernal Devices trilogy, ‘cause it’s worth every second, every page you’ll spend on this book. I’m a Christian and I hate to blaspheme, but this one is a taste of heaven.
Words!
“You know that feeling,” she said, “when
you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the
cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing close around the characters who live and
breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage,
and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.”
_______________________
“The habits of years are not unlearned so quickly,” Tessa said, and her eyes were sad.
“Do not make the mistake of believing that he does not love you because he plays at not
caring, Cecily. Confront him if you must and demand the truth, but do not make the
mistake of turning away because you believe that he is a lost cause. Do not cast him
from your heart. For if you do, you will regret it.”
________________________
“A heart divided against itself cannot stand, as they
say. You love them both, and it tears you apart.”
“House,” said Tessa.
He raised an eyebrow. “What was that?”
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. Not a heart. Perhaps you should not
attempt quotations if you cannot get them correct.”
“And maybe you should stop pitying yourself,” he said. “Most people are lucky to
have even one great love in their life. You have found two.”
“Says the man who has none.”
________________________
“Oh, what is brighter than the light?
What is darker than the night?
What is keener than an axe?
What is softer than melting wax?
Truth is brighter than the light,
Falsehood darker than the night.
Revenge is keener than an axe,
And love is softer than melting wax.”
___________________________
Our hearts, they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better
selves in the eyes of those who love us. And there is a beauty that brevity alone
provides.
___________________________
“Will. You asked me for my wisdom, as
someone who has lived many lifetimes and buried many loves. I can tell you that the
end of a life is the sum of the love that was lived in it, that whatever you think you have
sworn, being here at the end of Jem’s life is not what is important. It was being here for
every other moment. Since you met him, you have never left him and never not loved
him. That is what matters.”
I loved this book so much. Such a perfect ending! Great review :)
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